Successful pilot of the new Level 1 Award in Coaching Cycling

The pilot of the new Level 1 Award in Coaching Cycling was held this month, with development and assessment days taking place at the National Cycling Centre, Manchester.

The re-designed qualification has been developed from the current Level 1 award available to aspiring coaches. It is the first of a new style of delivery being implemented by British Cycling, called blended learning – a combination of online learning and traditional face-to-face delivery methods.

“The pilot was very well received by attendees and we look forward to the official launch of the award in the near future.”

John Mills, British Cycling Coaching, Education and Development Director

The online component is delivered through British Cycling’s virtual learning environment, British Cycling Learning. This is followed by two tutor-led, face-to-face development and assessment days, which provide learners with the opportunity to put the knowledge into practice and get feedback on their coaching in an informal, enjoyable and supportive environment.

The development and assessment days were piloted earlier this month, with 14 coaches attending from across the UK and Ireland, after completing their online learning modules.

British Cycling’s Director of Coaching, Education and Development, John Mills, said: “The distinctly new feature of this award is the online component, which has been designed to allow aspiring coaches to learn at a time, location and pace that suits their own circumstances and existing knowledge. This is complemented by face-to-face days, where coaches receive support from tutors and their peers, and demonstrate what they have learnt.

“The pilot was very well received by attendees and we look forward to the official launch of the award in the near future.”

"With the online components, I found it very useful to be able to go at my own pace, in my own time. I’ve been able to structure it around my family life and my work as well."

Emma Howarth, course candidate and Go-Ride club volunteer

The online modules cover everything from coaching and reflection, to equipment and safe practice. Each module contains interactive and animated content, as well as videos and questions to engage the learners.

A learner on the pilot, Emma Howarth, is a volunteer coach at a British Cycling club. She said: “By taking the Level 1 course, it was a good introduction to coaching, having come from a non-cycling and non-coaching background. With the online components, I found it very useful to be able to go at my own pace, in my own time. I’ve been able to structure it around my family life and my work as well.”

The pilot was hosted to inform the final stages of the award’s development, which will be launched to the public in the near future. For more information on Coaching awards, please visit https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching.